Arkansas commission honors late wildlife officer

WALDRON — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has awarded its officer of the year honor to an officer who died while attempting a water rescue in western Arkansas.

Joel Campora died May 31 in the flooding along with Scott County Sheriff Cody Carpenter. The pair was trying to rescue two women who were stranded by the rising floodwaters.

Campora had been a wildlife officer with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission since 2007. He lived in Waldron with his wife and two children.

The commission says Campora will now be nominated to become the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies officer of the year.

The commission says Campora worked closely with law enforcement agencies and with the U.S. Forest Service by helping enforce various littering and boating laws.

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